Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate is expected to approve the merger between Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. in exchange for a consent decree, according to the Wall Street Journal.

According to FCC officials close to the negotiations, Tate will sign off on the deal in exchange for a $20 million fine that resolves several enforcement issues involving the satellite radio companies.

Tate also has asked for other minor conditions, an FCC source said, though exact details are not known.

$20 million is nothing to Sirius/XM. It's like $2 to most of us. I don't see it as a negative in any way. In fact, with the fine paid, I would think that the "violations" from the past can no longer pop up and haunt the merged company! Hope we can all exhale soon!

$20 million is nothing to Sirius/XM. It's like $2 to most of us. I don't see it as a negative in any way. In fact, with the fine paid, I would think that the "violations" from the past can no longer pop up and haunt the merged company! Hope we can all exhale soon!

CNBC and CNN are reporting a tentative agreement with the merger as long as sirius and xm pay a $20million fine!! I'm sure they will pay the fine and we all move on!! Thanks to everyone who waited so patiently for this merger to go through!!! Let the NAB and HD RADIOS lawyers get involved!!! THEY WILL NOT WIN! NHL NBA NASCAR PGA NFL and MLB on ONE RECIEVER I LOVE IT!!!

It's extortion, but XM/Sirius can live with it. Now the only uncertainty is how much Mel will gut XM. This is been my biggest fear....leave Top Tracks, Deep Tracks and Fine Tuning alone, and please please please reduce the number of rock channels on Sirius...it's a bit absurd.

Finally they're doing the right thing. Now I worry about what the NAB will attempt next; If only they put the same amount of effort and planning into fixing their own programming and stations as they do with trying to destroy satellite radio, maybe they wouldn't have so much to worry about.

The NAB is probably happy in a way, though, they've completed their dirty work.....they've prolonged this long enough that holiday sales for this year can be forgotten about....if the FCC would've made this decision back in April getting products out for the holiday sales wouldn't have been a problem. Let's just hope the merged company is able to eventually pull itself up.

So the FCC with finally completely approve the merge only thing is they want them to pony up $20 million in fines, Fines for what? Oh wait the way too strong FM transmitters in the radios, that the FCC themselves gave the greenlight to in FCC testing.

Can we get Congressional intervention to prevent Melvin Karmazin's "merge" monopoly scheme? If Tate is not going to defend the choice of satellite radio subscribers, perhaps our Attorney Generals and Congressman can help. Call your Congressman and tell them to vote "NO" to merge monopoly without HD radio inclusion.

"Finally they're doing the right thing. Now I worry about what the NAB will attempt next; If only they put the same amount of effort and planning into fixing their own programming and stations as they do with trying to destroy satellite radio, maybe they wouldn't have so much to worry about."

Now that the merger appears to be "law", those NAB/iBiquity scumbags would have a very difficult time turing this aound - LOL!

"Can we get Congressional intervention to prevent Melvin Karmazin's "merge" monopoly scheme? If Tate is not going to defend the choice of satellite radio subscribers, perhaps our Attorney Generals and Congressman can help. Call your Congressman and tell them to vote "NO" to merge monopoly without HD radio inclusion."

It appears to be law - good-luck with that, MotherFucker! It would be extremely difficult to overturn this decision - go back to your shitty terrestrial/HD radio, and fix your own Goddamn problems, but you can't - it's too late.

HD Digital Radio • IT’S TIME TO UPGRADE!
HD Digital Radio. It's here. It's local. It's free. DISCOVER IT!
HD Digital Radio. It's the same Shitty programming you hear on he radio that comes with the car.

This was HD Radio's last gasp, especially with automakers starting to integrate in-dash Internet access. If I was an investor in iBiquity, I would start pulling out my investments, and if I was a broadcaster thinking about converting to HD, the FCC's decision would be the deciding factor. Even with the touted 10db power increase for FM-HD, awaiting FCC approval, and requiring more massive outlays in HD equipment, there is now no incentive to invest more in the HD Radio scam. No one is buying HD radios, and now, iBiquity has made many enemies, including Pioneer who got suckered into manufacturing HD radios, so it appears this was iBiquity's last gasp, at all expense. J.P. Morgan just got suckered into investing in iBiquity, and I bet that they are happy as pigs-in-shit, now.

Can we get Congressional intervention to prevent Melvin Karmazin's "merge" monopoly scheme? If Tate is not going to defend the choice of satellite radio subscribers, perhaps our Attorney Generals and Congressman can help. Call your Congressman and tell them to vote "NO" to merge monopoly without HD radio inclusion.

C3SR is appealing to lawmakers to provide legislative relief. They claim that the vast majority of satellite radio subscribers will suffer price hikes and deterioration in programming as a result of the merger. They also think the $20million in proposed fines shortchanges the taxpayer substantially and that the companies should be held responsible for their actions.

************************************************URGENT****************************************************
Let's get Congressional intervention to prevent Melvin Karmazin's "merge" monopoly scheme? If Tate is not going to defend the choice of satellite radio subscribers, perhaps our Attorney Generals and Congressman can help. Call your Congressman and tell them to vote "NO" to merge monopoly without HD radio inclusion.

************************************************URGENT****************************************************
Let's get Congressional intervention to prevent Melvin Karmazin's "merge" monopoly scheme? If Tate is not going to defend the choice of satellite radio subscribers, perhaps our Attorney Generals and Congressman can help. Call your Congressman and tell them to vote "NO" to merge monopoly without HD radio inclusion.

@George
C3SR needs to give it up. The Dept. of Justice had their say: they said, "Not a monopoly. No restrictions to merger." The FCC is about to have their say, with a fine for previous actions and a few concessions from the merged company. GIVE IT UP. Did lawmakers fight against the Exxon merger, something that affects ALL of our lives every day?? NO.

"C3SR is appealing to lawmakers to provide legislative relief. They claim that the vast majority of satellite radio subscribers will suffer price hikes and deterioration in programming as a result of the merger. They also think the $20million in proposed fines shortchanges the taxpayer substantially and that the companies should be held responsible for their actions."

************************************************URGENT****************************************************
Let's get Congressional intervention to prevent Melvin Karmazin's "merge" monopoly scheme? If Tate is not going to defend the choice of satellite radio subscribers, perhaps our Attorney Generals and Congressman can help. Call your Congressman and tell them to vote "NO" to merge monopoly without HD radio inclusion.

************************************************URGENT****************************************************
Let's get Congressional intervention to prevent Melvin Karmazin's "merge" monopoly scheme? If Tate is not going to defend the choice of satellite radio subscribers, perhaps our Attorney Generals and Congressman can help. Call your Congressman and tell them to vote "NO" to merge monopoly without HD radio inclusion.

************************************************EXTREMELY*URGENT****************************************************
Let's get Congressional intervention to prevent Melvin Karmazin's "merge" monopoly scheme? If Tate is not going to defend the choice of satellite radio subscribers, perhaps our Attorney Generals and Congressman can help. Call your Congressman and tell them to vote "NO" to merge monopoly without HD radio inclusion.

" Did you know?? The average time it takes the FCC to approve an NPRM is 700 days after issuance"?

Hey PCSTEL,
As any "uneducated" dullard knows, rules are meant to be broken. Your vast knowledge of satellite radio, and your incredible insight concerning this merger, doesn't mean squat shit anymore, not that it ever did. You are an arrogant blowhard, and I'm sure the good people who have diligently posted on this site will not miss your smug, insulting comments. Now go to the library, and read up on the history of terrestrial radio, because before long they will be history!

What a great country... you can get anything done as long as you pay off the crooks running the government!!!

they ought to fine the NAB 100 million dollars for wasting everyone's time. and Georgetown partners should pay a fine as well for trying to get in the game with the big boys... although they may get some of the spectrum so more power to them...

the ******URGENT**********
messages from www.hdradio.com
reflect the sense of imending doom to HD radio.

the thing that sucks about HD radio (besides everything) is that it's high definition crap as opposed to regular broadcast crap. it's just a really dumb idea that will die out soon.

the only place it would make a difference is in super high end stereo systems. now that siri and xm can combine their resources, theres no reason they cannot deliver high definition signals too if theres even a demand for it...

"AC, people don't even know what HD Radio stands for. They should be sued for misleading the public."

"Hybrid Digital/Analog, Not High Definition”

"Most Americans, including reporters and editors, think that HD Radio stands for High Definition radio, a natural assumption given our experience of HDTV, High Definition TV. Wrong... I would have to call it intentionally misleading. The deceptive strategy has worked... HD Radio is a trade name. It doesn’t have to stand for anything but a product. That product is by no means High Definition Radio.”

"Quite honestly, it doesn't stand for anything, said Peter Ferrera, president and CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance. The concept was somewhat of a steal from HD television, where viewers know it means better quality."

Dear AC,
I'm going to miss hearing from you on Orbitcast. I will especially miss your reflections on my posts, and your ehthusiasm for the guy's who lost. We can still be friends; no hard feelings, my man. Enjoy the rest of the summer, and stay well.
PS - GO FUCK YOUSELF, you useless piece of SHIT.

"If you own SIRI or XM and were even thinking of voting Democratic in
the November Election, THINK AGAIN. Read The Market Watch article on
the SIRI Google lead in page.
Essentially a possible scenerio exists that if the SIRI/XM merger is
approved now, The NAB will Sue in Federal Court to block the merger.
It isn't that The NAB could win but that would delay the merger long
enough to enable the Democrats to regain power then they could re-
appoint the Board, stuff it with Democrats and get the merger
reversed. And I am a life long Democrat but no longer!!!
SAW "

I, as well, was a Democrat before this merger and am no longer a democrat.

I'm sorry to have kept you poor fucks on the line for an extra 120 days, but I was hoping someone else would vote yes so that I could save my ass. I realized in the end, the Dems weren't going to have me so I'd better cave and vote GOP. Aren't I a Kunt keeping this vote out till the very last minute?

He reminds me of the IBOC-shills on Radio-Info, RadioInsight, and AVS Forum. They will be whining this evening, demanding a Congressional investigation, all the while believing that the General Public is reading their message boards. They will shill for HD Radio, and like AC, post links to hdradio.com, advertising all of the HD Radio products that no one is buying. Without piggybacking on Satrad receivers, HD Radio is dead - it has come back from the grave more times than Dracula. iBiquity knows their technology is hopelessly flawed, so they resort to legislative means (even using International Trade Agreements to force its consideration overseas). The Europeans don't want it, so iBiquity goes after the smaller, less educated third-world countries. If I was J.P. Morgan, I'de be pulling out of iBiquity like some cheap whore, with a case of the clap. HD Radio is a cancer that has afflicted the radio industry - broadcasters and manufacturers that sign agreements end up later regretting the decision. It is reported that iBiquity has a nondisclosure clause, keeping those associated with HD Radio from talking negatively to the Press. Once iBiquity gets their hands around your balls, they don't let go.

Does it really mean no HD in SatRadio radios? Really? Best news in months. FCC said 'let the market decide' on HD Radio then stacked the deck by allowing BigRadio and the gangsters who back it - including Price, Waterhouse who's seen as involved in a multi-million dollar 'estate grifting' of our family which left people dead before their time - by slopping digital signals onto AM&FM. Nice crowd, eh? They make Enron look good.

What did HD's spoiled brat tactics accomplish? Nothing good, much rotten. HD jams existing stations and blocks your ability to hear favorite stations. When you express concern about jamming, HD sleazy bully-boy promoters piously tell you, 'you have no business listening to out of town radio stations'. No right, eh? We'll see about that.

Hasn't the HD fiasco alienated loyal listeners? How many will trust BigRadio again? Isn't it a fine time for independent radio stations who avoided the HD 'carny shill'? Indeed it is.

Let's hope it's the end for HD, by which a gang of BigRadio greedy-guts and mob/Wall Street - redundant - money pimps contrived a 90s Enron scheme to slop digital onto AM & FM and jam competitors to ruin.

Enough HD dithering. Quit forcing something that listeners don't want. Hurricane season is upon us, and HD Radio makes it impossible to hear stations we rely upon for storm warnings, another fine benefit of HD radio otherwise known as State Sponsored Jamming.

Still Laughing .... Thanks for the prayers, but God has other things besides finance... it's 60% skill and 40% luck usually. When you have 400-500K into a stock that's volatile, you can expect very good days and very bad days.

I could be wrong, but the $$ potential for XMSR seems to be exceeding what i had thought for the "short term". I had thought 11.50-13.00 would be the/a play, but I'm seeing signs that 16.00-19.00 may be realistic as the unknowing continue to pour into Sirius.

Rememebr... XMSR is totally tied to Siri's value. I would have thought more people would have "got it" but, I guess not.

FYI.. getting ready to lay into Yahoo.. my next "project".
Good luck to you too pal.

Considering the brainwashing that the IBOC Alliance has done this can not be repeated enough:

HD DOES NOT STAND FOR HIGH DEFINITION, IT STANDS FOR HYBRID DIGITAL AND IT IS NOT HIGH DEFINITION, ANALOG RADIO SOUNDS BETTER, (IBOC IS IT'S REAL NAME ANYWAY ALTHOUGH INIQUITY WALKED AWAY FROM IT GRADUALLY AS THEY LET PEOPLE ASSOCIATE THE LETTERS HD WITH HI DEF TV, NOW THEY SAY IT STANDS FOR NOTHING, WANT TO BUY A BRIDGE IN NY?)